The following information is for San Diego County Burials. For other locations, please contact us for the correct shipping address and forms.

Print a COUPON for Live Webcasting video of the service

• Download a PRINTABLE SHIPPING FORM
  
  

• Download our letter of authorization
  
  

Instructions For Sending Ashes with the United States Postal Service

Your Funeral Home, Mortuary, or Crematory can assist you in shipping ashes if you feel uncomfortable doing it yourself. You can also call us, and we can walk you through the process step by step.

1. Please mail the original or a certified copy of the death certificate (this will be returned to you) and any disposition papers you received from your Funeral Home or Mortuary so that we may obtain a California Burial Permit If you have a valid California Burial Permit that states disposition as "At Sea off the coast of San Diego County" then we do not need the death certificate. If you have any questions about this, please call us, or fax / email us your paperwork to check.

2. Please print out this letter of authorization and fill it out.

3. Please ship the ashes with the following guidelines:

• Pack the cremains in a siftproof container. The original plastic bag provided by the crematory is sufficient for a siftproof container.
  
  
• Put the siftproof container in a padded shipping box - your mortuary or funeral home can provide you with one. 
  
  
• Mark the outside of your container "Cremated human ashes."
  
  
• Send Registered Mail OR Express Mail and keep track of the tracking number - we cannot be held responsible for the ashes while in transit.
  
  

4. CLICK HERE FOR THE PRINTABLE SHIPPING FORM

5. In an envelope, enclose your check or money order payable to "Ashes on the Sea" for the amount of $195.00 for the basic scattering service. We also accept credit cards Print a credit card authorization.

6. If you desire additional services, write them in and print out the shipping page and use it as an order form. 

Things that must be included on the shipping form:

• Your name
• Your relationship to the deceased 
• Your complete address 
• A phone number where we can reach you 
• Your e-mail address if you have one  
• Any other information you feel we need to know!
  
  

7. Ship to: 

Ashes on the Sea
P.O. Box 710693
San Diego, CA 92171

Don't Forget: Please request "Registered Mail" or "Express Mail" for your shipment - we cannot be held responsible for ashes during transit. Both of these options offer verification of the date and time of delivery online or by telephone.

Your loved one's ashes will be scattered at sea usually within 30 days of receipt. California law requires ashes be scattered within 60 days of receipt. We will email you a Memorial Certificate when we have dispersed the ashes. If you wish to be called before the ashes are scattered, please let us know. There is no additional charge for the phone call.

Questions? Please view our Frequently Asked Questions section or drop us a line at 1-877-277-2799.

USPS Guidelines

Cremated Human Ashes may only be shipped via the United States Postal Service (USPS) - Neither Federal Express nor UPS allow for the shipment of ashes at this time. A private courier service may be used, although this can be quite expensive.

The USPS has the following regulations, which you can find in USPS Publication 52:

• Human ashes are permitted to be mailed provided they are packaged as required in 463b (below). 
• The identity of the contents should be marked on the address side
• Publication 52 Revision: New Option for Mailing Cremated Human Remains:
  
  Effective September 25, 2008, Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail, is revised to offer a new option for mailing cremated human remains to domestic addresses and to eliminate the current requirement for requesting a return receipt when the remains are sent via Registered Mail™ service. Currently, the only option for mailing cremated human remains is Registered Mail service with return receipt requested. We now also offer the option to use Express Mail® service as a faster alternative for mailing cremated remains domestically.
  
  Since verification of the date and time of delivery for both Registered Mail and Express Mail service is now available online or by telephone, there is no longer a need to require return receipt service and this requirement is now removed.
  
  Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted, and Perishable Mail * * * * * 4 Restricted Matter * * * * * 45 Liquids, Powders, and Odor-Producing Materials * * * * * 452 Mailability * * * * * 452.2 Cremated Remains [Revise the 3rd and 4th sentence of 452.2 as follows:] ***Mailpieces sent to domestic addresses may be sent via Express Mail or Registered Mail service. Mailpieces sent to an international address must be sent via Registered Mail service, and the country listing in the IMM must show that cremated remains are permitted and Registered Mail service must be available for that country. 
• 463b. .. must be packed in siftproof containers or other containers that are sealed in durable siftproof outer containers. The original plastic bag provided by the crematory is sufficient for a siftproof container.